Metallization of vitreous ceramic surfaces.



UNITED srratms ggmvr OFFICE.

QUENTIN MARIN 0, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO EDWINJOSEPH RICHARDSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

METALLIZATION OF VITREOUS CERAMIC SURFACES.

To all whom it may concern:

3e it known that I, QUENTIN MARINO, a citizen of Italy, and residing atWymermg Mansions, l/Vymering Road, Elgin avenue, London, VV., England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to theMetallization of Vitreous Ceramic Surfaces, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to the metallization of vitreous, porcelain,earthenware and the like surfaces, so that metal or metallic alloy maybe electrolytically deposited upon such surfaces, and it has for itsobject to enable such met-allization to be effected in a simple manner.

The metallization of the surface according to this invention is intendedto be effected after said surface has been roughened or rendered matte,which operation may be accomplished in any well known manner, forinstance, by the use of hydrofluoric acid, or by means of an emery wheelor sand blast.

My invention is carried out as follows. A cold solution is made byputting cuprous oxid into a solution of nitrate of silver whereby isguickly formed a gray substance consisting o filiform silver and basicnitrate ofcopper the use of this substance enables the electrolyticmetallization of the surface to be effected. This gray substance is thendissolved in hydrofluoric acid, and the solution so formed is applied,say, by means of a brush, to the roughened surface. In order to insureits adherence to such surface, I reduce the copper and the silver in thefluorid to a metallic state by eliminating the hydrofluoric acid. Toeffect this reduction, I dust the surface, while it is wet with thelastmentioned solution, with a mixture of metals, or with one metalonly, in a finely-divided state and such as will reduce the silver onthe one hand and the copper on the other, both of which latter arecombined with the fluoric acid. For this purpose, I may use a mixture ofpowdered copper and zinc, or a powder of cop er with either iron,nickel, cobalt, cadmiumflead or bismuth, the copper and zinc reducingthe silver, while the zinc, iron, nickel, cobalt, cadmium, lead orbismuth reduces the copper. I may, however, use powdered zinc only,which reduces Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 31, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 446,337.

both the silver and the copper. Or I may use powdered zinc mixed witheither iron, nickel, cobalt,-cadmium, lead or bismuth to effect thereduction. In any case, when a mixture of metals is employed, theparticles thereof must be intimately mixed together. The surface thusbecomes coated with a mixture of silver and copper in the form of a verythin film sufficiently continuous for it to be electrically conductingfor the purpose of having deposited thereon electrolytically the metalor metallic alloy desired. Instead of leaving the surface in thiscondition, I render it more conductive by rubbing it briskly, when dry,with a brush or the like, until it presents a polished and uniform appearance, thereby facilitating the passage ofthe electric currentthroughout the film. In some cases it may be desired to electrolyticallydeposit the metal or metallic alloy on portions only of the surface, forinstance, when ornamenting a surface; in such cases, only those portionsof the surface which are to be ornamented require to be roughened, and,as my solution, applied as above described, adheres only to theroughened portions, any solution which lies on the unroughened port-ionsmay be easily removed therefrom, by, say, wiping it off with a cloth orthe like. The article with its surface treated as above described maynow be placed as a cathode in a suitable electrolyte of gold, silver,nickel, copper, or other metal or metallic alloy of which a deposit isrequired, and electrical connection be made so as to cause the metal oralloy to be-deposlted thereon by electrolysis as usual.

I may use cupric hydrate instead of cuprous acid.

I claim, v y

1. Metallizing a roughened, vitreous, ceramic surface by applyingthereto a solution resulting from dissolving in hydrofluoric acid a graysubstance consisting of filiform silver and basic nitrate of copper, andthen, while the surface is wet with the solution, dusting said surfacewith a metal in a finely divided state and such as will reduce thesilver and copper in the fluorid to a metallic state, substantially asdescribed.

2. The process of metallization of a roughened vitreous, ceramicsurface, the step of preparing a gray substance consisting of .filiformsilver and basic nitrate of copper anddissolving the gray substance soformed iii in hydrofluoric acid, substantially as described. I

3. In the metallization of a roughened, vitreous, ceramic surface.preparing a gray substance consisting of filiform silver andnitrodissolving this substance in hydrofluoric acid, applying theresulting solution to said roughened surface, then while the surface iswet with the solution, dusting thereon a suitable powdered metal whichwill reduce the silver and the copper in the fluorid to a metallic stateand when the surface is dry, rubbing said surface briskly until itpresents a polished and uniform appearance, substantially ashcreinbefore described.

4. The process ofmetallization of a roughened vitreous ceramic surface,the step of preparing a cold solution made by putting cuprous oxid intoa solution of nitrate of silver.

5. Metallizing a roughened vitreous, ce-

' ramic surface by applying thereto a solution resulting from dissolvingin hydrofluoric acid filiform silver and basic nitrate of copper andthen while the surface is wet with the first mentioned solution, dustingsaid surface with a metal in a finely divided state such as will reducethe silver andthe copper in fluorid to a metallic state and thenelectrically depositing upon said surface a metal or a metallic alloy ofwhich a deposit is required.

6. In the metallization of a roughened vitreous, porcelain, earthenwaresurface, preparing a gray substance consisting of filiform' silver andbasic nitrate of copperdissolving this substance in hydrofluoric acid,applying the resulting solution to said roughened surface, then whilethe surface is wet with the last mentioned solution dusting thereon asuitable powdered metal which will reduce the silver and the copper inthe fluorid to a metallic state and when the surface is dry, rubbingsaid surface briskly until itpresents a polished and uniform appearance,and then electrically depositing upon said surface a metal or metallicalloy of which a deposit is required.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

QUENTIN 'MARrNo.

Witnesses:

HARRY T. l GEY, JOHN NALLE SMITH.

